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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A quick 20th century dance written in double time.






2. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






3. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






4. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






5. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






6. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






7. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






8. A musical scale having five notes.For example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale.






9. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






10. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






11. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






12. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






13. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






14. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






15. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






16. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






17. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






18. A group singing in unison.






19. A repeated phrase.






20. Convenient method of numbering a composer's works where a number follows the word 'opus'.For example - Opus 28 - No. 4.






21. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






22. Unmusical - without tone.






23. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






24. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






25. The principal note of a triad.






26. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






27. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






28. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






29. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






30. The keyboard of a stringed instrument.






31. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






32. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






33. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






34. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






35. The unit of musical rhythm.






36. The structure of a piece of music.






37. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






38. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






39. Repetition of a single tone.






40. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






41. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






42. The unit of musical rhythm.






43. Pertains to tone or tones.






44. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






45. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






46. Arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments.






47. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






48. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






49. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






50. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.